By Nick Dodds
So, I may need to preface this with a disclaimer: many of you will have already seen these bands, but as a proud antipodean my opportunities are a touch more… limited. When All Tomorrow's Parties announced this particular line-up of events, I was all over it, throwing cash at every website emblazoned with an ATP logo. The following is an attempt to re-create some of the magic I experienced—it may work, may not! Warning, results may vary.
On a balmy Melbourne evening, every neck-beard descended upon the Forum Theatre; probably Melbourne's best live music venue to see the mighty Godspeed You! Black Emperor (hereafter referred to as GY!BE). This is a band that I had given up hope of seeing live. Sure, when they started playing shows in 2010 in the UK and USA I got excited, but what were the chances of them playing in Melbourne? Maybe in 2000-2002, but now? Nope. So I watched from afar and shook my hands at every blog post singing their praises, furiously listening to 'Lift Yr Skinny Fists…' as I read reviews of shows I couldn't go to—but then, the majesty of ATP occurred and GY!BE graced us with their presence. And WHAT a presence!
It was one of the most respectful crowds I've ever seen at a gig in Melbourne—sometimes we can be a little insensitive (see: bogan)—but tonight everyone was on best their behaviour. Even the glass-clinking seemed to be kept to a minimum, with everyone getting it out of their systems in between songs. A sold out show of one of the greatest post rock bands of all time, playing in Melbourne's finest mid-sized venue; a first world problem indeed.
GY!BE took the stage in their usual understated fashion as the house lights dimmed, leaving their preferred red spots from above as the only light, apart from the projectors. It's this anonymity that adds to; not detracts from the music as you realise that everything they do is carefully thought out, planned, and structured. This is a deliberate band, operating within their own carefully laid out rules. And with muted red lights leaving maximum retinal space for the projections; as Efrim himself says: "It's about putting the whole into context.”
As the opening lilt of 'Hope Drone' rang out across the venue, you could've heard a pin drop—smooth atmospherics, static, violin, a double bass, and some wonderfully mixed cymbals providing a high end sizzle—but it wasn't until 'Mladic' began, that the band really hit their stride. When the kick drum finally came in the sound was huge, providing an excellent counter to the guitar and sweeping violin runs. It surprised me actually. I've listened to them a lot and I play violin, but seeing just how much Sophie plays on each track was fantastic. Normally violin in rock bands is almost an afterthought; sonically shut out by guitars, but not here. No, the violin almost leads the tracks more than the guitars, providing a different take on a well-worn genre.
I'll never get sick of seeing a violin run through so many pedals; it makes my inner music nerd squee with delight. 'Mladic' also gave the band the opportunity to demonstrate how the new material sounds – and it is great. The climax of 'Mladic' was a big, barrelling rock-out that seemed to rival Krautrock's driving minimalism, but with GY!BE's ethereal qualities.
Next cab off the rank was 'Gathering Storm', where Sophie really got to shine. Efrim's guitar work was stellar alongside David's as Sophie laid down some truly epic violin runs; themselves run through some fantastic distortion. Couple this with two drummers and the four projectors synced in time with the music, and it was more an art performance than a concert and I feel that, that is exactly what GY!BE want, and the hushed, reverential tones from the audience seemed to mirror this.
That large rock-out led into 'Behemoth', where we were treated to the largest major chord progression/resolution of the night. I'm a sucker for a big melodic rock out, but the way that they managed to resolve a 10+ minute song from a minor key into a major was nothing short of brilliant, and the smiles around me seemed to indicate this. This was a band in full flight with an audience of die-hard fans who all knew the material and were genuinely happy just to be there, seeing something they never thought would happen.
And then it was into 'The Sad Mafioso'; a fitting way to round out the show. This track demonstrated why GY!BE are superb on an album, but an order of magnitude better, live. There is simply no contest. I actually thought they would struggle to mimic the recorded sound, but it's the other way around. GY!BE live has so much more nuance, sonic variation, and quite frankly, balls.
So all in all, a fantastic show. It was an absolute pleasure to witness what was definitely a 'bucket list' gig for me. Seeing such an important band in such an important venue for Melbourne also made it a little more special, and the rest of the crowd seemed to be aware of this as it was easily the nicest crowd I've seen at The Forum. Great night, superb music, great people.
And I get to see it again tomorrow. Spoilt.
